EOT >260
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Joined: May 2011
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EOT >260
Have been having problems with my 03 F-350 since I bought it 12 months ago where the clutch fan keeps kicking in and running. The dealership was no help, been reading the posts here and bought a Scangauge II. With the empty truck running 70-75 mph my ECT is at 190 and my EOT 235. One of the employees is on the road with it pulling a gooseneck trailer down the interstate (empty) and the EOT is running at 265. He also says it acts like the transmission is slipping and it will puff some black smoke pulling a hill (it was doing this a month ago and we cleaned the EGR valve and it got better). He says he can't hear the fan kicking in, but the temp is not continuing to climb.
My understanding (from reading posts here) is that the oil cooler is plugged. Does that sound right? I should mention the clutch fan was replaced in January, so it's only got about 5K on it now.
FYI, I filled up the truck last night (it had been run on the interstate with no/light loads/no trailer) and it got 14.8 mpg. It gets about 10 pulling the trailer. I also have virtually no mechanical ability.
My understanding (from reading posts here) is that the oil cooler is plugged. Does that sound right? I should mention the clutch fan was replaced in January, so it's only got about 5K on it now.
FYI, I filled up the truck last night (it had been run on the interstate with no/light loads/no trailer) and it got 14.8 mpg. It gets about 10 pulling the trailer. I also have virtually no mechanical ability.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
Welcome to FTE! You came to the right place to read about this type of thing.
Unfortunately it sounds like you have a plugged oil cooler, as your oil temps are WAY too high. I would recommend not driving the truck any more than absolutely necessary until you can get this corrected, as this can lead to some very expen$ive problems.
The way I understand things, your EGR cooler and oil coolers are plumbed in series with each other, meaning that if your oil cooler is completely plugged up it will starve your EGR cooler of coolant, which can lead to that failing. When this fails it can start dumping coolant into your air intake which can hydrolock the motor if it gets bad enough.
Another nasty thing that can happen is if your oil temps get too hot. I've seen cases where the plastic standpipe in the oil filter housing actually melts with the high oil temps. When this happens the plastic is circulated through the engine and all your bearings and causes everything, even the block, to be unusable. This can amount to a $15K repair if repaired at a Ford dealer.
PLEASE stop towing with this truck! It will make a problem much worse!
Unfortunately it sounds like you have a plugged oil cooler, as your oil temps are WAY too high. I would recommend not driving the truck any more than absolutely necessary until you can get this corrected, as this can lead to some very expen$ive problems.
The way I understand things, your EGR cooler and oil coolers are plumbed in series with each other, meaning that if your oil cooler is completely plugged up it will starve your EGR cooler of coolant, which can lead to that failing. When this fails it can start dumping coolant into your air intake which can hydrolock the motor if it gets bad enough.
Another nasty thing that can happen is if your oil temps get too hot. I've seen cases where the plastic standpipe in the oil filter housing actually melts with the high oil temps. When this happens the plastic is circulated through the engine and all your bearings and causes everything, even the block, to be unusable. This can amount to a $15K repair if repaired at a Ford dealer.
PLEASE stop towing with this truck! It will make a problem much worse!
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I would stop using that truck until you find out what is causing those high temps. You could always hope that it's a sensor going bad, but I would imagine that it's an oil cooler issue. You don't want to be using that truck until you find out for certain though.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301
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It's good that you are monitoring the temperatures, and you already know this your oil temperatures are too high. A couple of things, first get another dealer. That fan kicking in a while back should have been an indication that there was a problem. Second, get the oil cooler replaced. Find a good shop to do the work for you if you are unable to. It's not terribly complex, but if you lack the skills, it would be best to source the labor else where. Do it sooner than later.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Eagle Mountian, Utah
The egr cooler in the 03 motor were actually a lot more robust then later years. I would fear the standpipe melting more then the egr cooler failing. I would shut it down when the oil temps get above 245. Thats what i would do to get him back home if haveing in fixed on the road is not a option.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2008
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When my first oil cooler was toast (2003 as well) I saw 257 on the oil temperature, I did change my oil cooler right quick but my EGR cooler still looked new. One of the best things about the 2003 is the EGR cooler design.
Last edited by nylyon; May 26, 2011 at 10:30 AM. Reason: Corrected temperature
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Those 03 EGR coolers aren't all that robust than if it was toast at 157 degrees.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I figured that's what happened. I just thought I would give you a hard time is all. Nice of me wasn't it? I like volunteering people for that.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Alberta
Are you sure the standpipes in the 03s are plastic? I did my oil cooler after hitting 270 degrees empty. I was pulling some hills but nonetheless it scared the hell outta me. I saw no signs of failure and I was deleted at the time not sure if that helped. If it was pure luck I wish it would carry over onto a lotteryticket....
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Update: I replaced the oil cooler with a Bulletproof one. When I picked up the truck it was running a little rough and puffing black smoke (it hadn't before). I used it one day and my ECT was 200-207 (had been 185-195) and my EOT was running 213-228. My wife drove it to town and it died on the interstate and won't start (they now think the HPOP sensor or HPOP (only 70 psi?)). Obviously I'm concerned about the dying and black smoke, but should't my ECT and EOT be running cooler? and without that spread? We replaced the thermostat last fall.
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,912
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I think this is a safe temperature for a stock oil cooler - not desireable, but most likely safe. The PCM will start defueling at "250-something" *F.
If you have a BulletProof oil cooler the coolant/oil delta T doesn't mean anything anymore.
If you have a BulletProof oil cooler the coolant/oil delta T doesn't mean anything anymore.